Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-11-17
A Pair or BIuebirds.

One advantage of studying two birds
of kind at the same time is 10 observe
the talk between them, which has great
interest for me. This pair were exceed
ingly talkative at first, uttering not
only the usual musical three-syllable
MARBLE or call, Lanier aptly calls the
"heavenly word, but often a soft
twittering talk, Of varying infection
and irregular length, which was GER
tainly the most interesting bird talk
ever heard. When they could not see
me they INDUCED in it more freely,
with changing tones at different times,
and after they became accustomed 20
the room and lis inhabitants it was
neither so frequent nor SO earnest
Often at night, when one-perhaps in
dream-fell of the perch, heard
much low, tender talk, almost in
whisper, before all was quiet again;
and when another bird flew wildly
around the room, there was always
remark or two in an interested tone.
The male does most of the talking,
carving on, often for 4 long time,
constant flow of what sounded mar
velously like comments and criticisms.
while his mate replied occasionally
with the usual call. Certain notes
plainly had specific meaning, even to
the others in the room. One in par
ticular was peculiar and low, but upon
its utterance every bird became in
stantly silent and looked at the cage,
while the bluebirds themselves were SO
absorbed, gazing apparently into
blank space, that | could easily put
my hands on them before they oh.
served me. For several minutes this
low note would be repeated, and all
the birds stare at nothing, till | began
to feel almost uncomfortable, as have
done at similar staring ut nothing on
the part of ANIMALS. One can hardly
resist the feeling that the creatures see
something too intangible for our eyes.
On one occasion, when the male
uttered this note, the female was Just
about to eat she stood rs If petriiied,
with head halfway down to the food,
for two or three minutes What
have called talk was very long
low twitter in a conversational tone,
on one note, not at all in singing
tone, like the usual MARBLE or call. j
have also heard it from wild bluebirds,
when could get near enough. From
the first, rs said above, the male did
most of the talking, and the habit grew
upon him, till he became regular
babbler, standing on the top perch,
and keeping it up persistently all day
long. | think il arose from the fact
that the greater number of birds in the
room were thrushes, who softly, sang
without opening the mouth. With
this gentil ripple Of song the bluebird's
talk harmonized perfectly, and he al.
most entirely disconnected his lovely
song, and INDUCED himself in talk by
the hour. Strange to say, very soon
noticed that his mate did not approve
of it, and would not stand ON the
perch beside him while he persisted in
it. At first she turned sharply towards
him, and he showed that he understood
her wishes by ceasing for awhile; but
as the habit grew, and he was not SO
eaily silenced, she more and more
deserted his side, and after two OF
three weeks | heard occasionally q
gentle remonstrance from her. | do
not believe really harsh tone can come
| from bluebirds throat. One day they
were taking their usual midday nap
on the same perch, when thrush
across the window began his low song.
That started up the bluebird, and be
added his talk. which awakened his
mate. She endured it for about tive
seconds, and then she suddenly
stretched the wing nearest him
so far that he was obliged to move
away, when she instantly hoped down
herself -OiiUer 7b0rme Miller ia
Atlantic.